Alan Wallace on Dzogchen

Twenty Tibetan Buddhist nuns have just made history, becoming the first Tibetan women to successfully pass all the exams for the Geshema degree, equivalent to a Doctorate in Buddhist philosophy. Exam results were announced by the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration. All 20 candidates for the degree passed. A Geshema…

Four Establishments of Mindfulness from Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron (The four establishments of mindfulness focus on the body, feelings, mind, and phenomena (dhamma, dharma). To “establish mindfulness” means to place our mindfulness on an object comprehended by wisdom. ) Mindfulness of Feelings Through mindfulness of…

Shantideva cites three benefits of pain. First, it is valuable because through sorrow, pride is driven out. No matter how arrogant and condescending we’ve been, great suffering can humble us. The pain of a serious illness or loss of a loved one can be transformative, softening us and making us less self-centered. The second benefit…